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(No Model.) 4' Sheets-Sheet 1."

J. T. MAHONEY & E. F. GRIFFITHS.

PREPAYMENT GAS METER.

No. 601,576. Patented Mar. 29', 1898.

Witnesses.

Inventors.

Attorney.

v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. T. MAHONEY &; E. F. GRIFFITHS.

PREPAYMENT GAS METER. N0. 601,576. Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

No Model.)

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Attorney.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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Inventor.

Witnesses Attorney.

v (No Model.) 4: Sheets-Sheef4.

J. T. MAHONEYXv E. F. GRIFFITHS.

PREPAYMENT GAS METER. No. 601,576. Patented Mar. 29

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UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JAMES T. MAHONEY AND EBENEZER F. GRIFFITHS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID MAI-IONEY ASSIGNOR TO SAID GRIFFITHS.

PREPAYMENT GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,576, dated March 29, 1898.

' Application filed June 80, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES T. MAHONEY, a citizen of the United States, and EBENEZER F. GRIFFITHS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, (having declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States,) both residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepayment-Movements for Gas-Meters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to prepayment-movements to be attached to gas-meters; and the object of our improvement is to provide a simple and effective device that can be used in conjunction with the ordinary form of gasmeters, the mechanism of said movement being set in motion only after a coin of particular size and value has been deposited in the coin slot and securely and automatically looked after a predetermined volume of gas has passed through the meter. To accomplish the desired result, our invention is constructed in the manner hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the top of an ordinary gasmeter having our improvement therein, the top of the meter being removed. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the meter and coin-box, showing the dial that registers the amount purchased and for which coins have been deposited. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on 8 is a sectional elevation through the valvebox and its connections on line 3 1 of Fig. 1. Figs. 9 and 10 are views of a modified form of gearing tooperate the mechanism that controls the flow of gas.

A represents the outer casing of the gasnieter, which is of the ordinary construction.

Serial No. 642,954. (No model.)

A is the inlet connected to the street-main, and A the gas-outlet connecting to the housepipes.

a aare downwardly-cupped openings in the bottom of the valve box. Through these openings the gas is admitted to the meter, flowing in the direction indicated by the arrows. 7

a is the valve controlling the flow of gas from the inlet-pipe A into the body of the meter. This valve is connected with and controlled by the coin-actuated mechanism.

b, 17', b and b are the various levers operated by the vertical shafts b and b that connect with the bellows in the gas-meter.

b is a vertical crank-shaft extending to and operating the valves in the gas-meters. The levers b, 1), b and b and the shafts b b and the crank-shaft b are identical in construction with those parts of the ordinary meter and perform the same functions.

a is a horizontal shaft extending from the vertical crank-shaft b to and operating the usual form of dial mechanism on the front of the meter, and b is the worm gear-wheel on the crank-shaft b.

a is a spur gear-wheel on the inner end of the shaft a and engaging with the worm gear-wheel b and a is a worm gear-Wheel on the shaft (1 c is a screw-threaded shaft having one end secured in a suitable bearing formed in the support 0, the opposite end fitting into a cy lindrical opening formed in the square shaft 01, that has a suitable bearing in the support 0 c is a spur gear-wheel on the shaft c and engaging with the worm gear-wheel a on the shaft (1 e is a lug or projection on the Wheel 0 d is a stuffing-box on the shaft (1 to prevent any gas escaping from the meter into the coin-box at this point, and d is a short arm or lever on the extreme end of the shaft d.

d is a hollow cylindrical rack, one end fit- IOO forms a stop for the rack and prevents any jamming up against the wheel 0 d is a shaft supported above and at right angles to the hollow cylindrical rack C1 and (Z is a spur gear whee] or pinion on the shaft d and engaging with hollow cylindrical rack d 61 is an arm or lever secured on the shaft (1 and d is another but shorter arm secured on the shaft 61 Both of these levers d and d have their free ends bent over at right angles to the main portion. The outer end of the shaft 61 projects through the center of the large prepayment-dial A (shown inFig. 1)

holds the inner end of the shaft d in position,

and e is a curved lever on one end of the shaft e. The free bentover ends of the levers d and d slide along and over the inner edge of this curved lever 6 whereby the said curved lever is thrown outfor the purpose of causing the valve a to be opened to permit the flow of gas.

a is a short arm or extension formed integral with the hub portion of the lever e and is adapted to be engaged and operated by the turned-over ends of the lever d for the purpose of closing the valve a after a predetermined quantity of gas has been passed.

e is a straight arm or lever secured on the inner end of the shaft 6. Upon the free end of this arm 6 the valve a is secured. The

forward movement of the lever d will press back the curved lever e and thus open the 3 valve a, and the reverse movement will close said valve when the lever 01 comes in contact with the short arm or extension 6 in the position shown in Fig. 8. The lever 61 is made shorter than the lever (i so that it will pass over the end of the arm or extension 6 without touchin git. When the lever d has passed 1 B is the coin-slot formed on the inner side 1 of, the face-plate.

B is the knob or handle for starting the mechanism after the coin has been placed in the coin-slot, and B is the coin-box, into which the coins fall after passing through the coinslot.

'0 is a spur gear-wheel on the inner end of the spindle that holds the knob B 0 is a spur gear-wheel on a shaft located above the gear-wheel O.

C is a spur gear-Wheel on a shaft below the gear-wheelO, and C is an idler gear-Wheel engaging with the wheels 0 and O.

D is a ratchet-wheel secured on the extreme end of the spindle carrying the knob 13 D is a pawl for preventing the backward shown in Figs. t-and 6.

movement of the ratchet-wheel D, and D is another pawl or catch located on the side of the ratchet-Wheel opposite the pawl D and adapted to drop into the rectangular notch f at regular predetermined intervals, thus preventing said ratchet-Wheel from moving in either direction. This notch f is rectangular in shape and is located in the periphery of the ratchet-wheel D, and is as long as and occupies the place of one of the ratchetteeth of said wheel. By reason of the length of the notch f the knob 13 will be capable of a slight movement when the pawl D is in engagement therewith, but not sufficient to permit the operation of the device.

f is a spiral spring holding the two pawls D and D up against the ratchet-wheel.

D is a connecting-rod having one end thereof secured at or near the outer edge of the ratchet-wheel and the opposite end jointedly connected with the free end of the short arm or lever B, secured on the rock-shaft E.

E is a curved arm secured to the shaft E and having the free end thereof bent inwardly at right angles to the body of said lever, so as to formthereon a finger 9, that presses against the edge of the coin G.

E is a rock-shaft upon which the pawl D is secured, and E is a short arm or lever secured rigidly to the shaft E and beveled inwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 7.

G is a flat disk secured to the shaft that carries the spur gear-wheel O, and f is a'pin secured in the disk 0 near the edge thereof. If preferred, this pin may be lengthened somewhat and placed in the Wheel 0 and the disk (3 omitted entirely.

f and f are pins projecting from the side of the gear-wheel G and acting upon the pawl D to prevent it from falling into the notch f in the ratchet-wheel D except at regular predetermined intervals.

9 is a channel or raceway formed on the inside of the face-plate B at or near. the bottom of the coin-slot B. In this channel the coin-finger g on the curved arm E moves back and forward, pressing against the upper edge of the coin G, and thus forcing it out and into the coin-box B located directly 3 under the coin-slot.

The prepayment-movement being constructed as shown and connected to the gasmeter in the manner herein described, with the inlet-pipe A connected to a gas-main and the outlet A to the house gas-pipes, the operation is as follows: The coin is placed in the opening at the top of the coin-slot B (shown in Fig. 1) and will fall into the position The knob B is then turned to the right or toward the front of the meter. This movement,owing to the length of the notch f and the play of the pawl D therein, turns the ratchet-wheel D, forcing down the long connecting-rod D carrying with it the This 'Igo

of the coin G, pushing it out into the coinbox B As the coin passes or is forced out it impinges against the beveled edge of the arm or lever E forcing said' arm downward and turning the shaft E and raising the pawl or catch D out of the notch f in the ratchetwheel, thus allowing said wheel to turn freely. The knob 13 is turned until it will go no farther, being stopped by the pawl D falling again into the notch f. The turning of the knob 13 will, acting through the cog-wheels 0, C and turn the flat disk 0 when the pin f will engage with the short lever d on the end of the square shaft 11, causing said shaft to turn, carrying with it the hollow cylindrical rack (:1 As this cylindrical rack d moves forward on thescrew-shaft c the pin ion (1 is turned, thus operating the shaft 61 and moving the levers d and d causing the lever d to come in contact with the curved arm e which, being secured to the shaft e, causes it to turn partially around and raise the straight arm or lever e and open the valve a, thus allowing the gas to enter into and pass through the meter, going from thence through the outlet-pipe A to the house-pipes in the regular way. The flow of gas being once started it will continue until by the reverse movement of the mechanism the valve ct is closed. The closing operation is as follows: The vertical crank-shaft bflbein g turned by the flow of gas in the regular way, operates the shaft h This will turn the worm gear-wheel of, causing it turn the spur gearwheel 0 and operate the screw-shaft c, which as it turns will cause the cylindrical rack d to move from right to left, turning the pinion cliand revolving the shaft d causing the arm d to move along the inner edge of the curved lever e? and impinge against the short extension e causing the shaft e to turn and operate the valve-arm e thus closing the valve a and shutting off the supply of gas.

The coin-box B is closed on all sides and provided with a suitable, door through which the coins may be removed. The coin-actuated mechanism attached to the face-plate B is also securely closed in, so that it can at no time be tampered with. The valve a is surrounded with a suitable gas-tight box, so as to keep the gas from the other parts of the device.

The downwardly cupped gas admission openings a a in the bottom of the valve-box prevent any meddling with the valve 0/ by means of a wire or other device passed down the inlet-pipe A. V

In place of the spur gear-wheel C (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) the intermittent star-wheel C (shown in Figs. 9 and 10) may be used, in which case it will be necessary to place the single-tooth trip-wheel C on the knob-spindle between the cog-wheel O and the ratchetwheel D.

Instead of the shaft 01 being squared, as shown, it may be of any desired shape that will permit the rack d to slide to and fro thereon, yet prevent it rotating independently thereof.

The one side of the coin passage or raceway g and the inner side of the arm or lever E being beveled, as shown in Fig. 7, a thin or small coin will pass through without operating the unlocking mechanism.

The mechanism shown and described is adapted to the sale of gas at the rate of one:

dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand feet, a quarter of a dollar being placed in the coin-box for every two hundred feet purchased and the knob 13 given five full revo lutions. 'When the coin-actuating mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the free end of the pawl D will be in the rectangular notch f and not in contact with either of the pins f and f After the coin has been dropped into the slot B the turning of the knob B will give the ratchet-wheel D a slight movement, which will. depress the levers D and D rock the sh aft E, and consequently the lever E, secured thereon, and bring the finger g thereof in contact with the top of the coin G, pressing said coin G down, and consequently the lever E upon which it rests, which will rock the shaft E and thus will raise the pawl D out of said notch f and allow the ratchet-wheel to turn. The cog-wheels O and O are so proportioned relatively that at every revolution of the wheel 0 the wheel 0 will make four-fifths of a revolution, bringing the pins f and f in such position that one or the other of them will hold the pawl D out of the rectangular notch f in the ratchet-wheel D. The same conditions will exist at the second, third, and fourth revolutions; but at the end ofthe fifth revolution the pins f and f will be at the starting-point and in such position that the pawl D will fall into the notch f. After putting a quarter of a dollar in the coinslot five revolutions of the knob B will turn all of the mechanism, so that the hand on the prepayment-dial A will go forward from 0 to the 200 mark. If another quarter is placed in the coin-slot and the knob again given five revolutions, the hand on the prepayment-dial will point to 400, and so on until five quarters have been placed in the coin box, when the pointer on the dial will be at the 1000 mark. WVhen the hand on the dial indicates one thousand, the knob 13 has been turned to the right as far as it can possibly go, as the lug d* on the rack 01 will engage the lug 0* on the wheel 0 so that the dropping of additional coins in the slot will be of no avail to operate the machine until some of the gas has been consumed. Instead of having the dial register one thousand it may register any desiredamount and the different parts proportioned accordingly.

Should the price of gas be more or less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand feet, the relative proportions of the various parts of the vending device should be changed accordingly.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination of a coin unlocking mechanism, with a non-cylindrical rotatable shaft, a hollow cylindrical and internally-screw-threaded rack having a sliding fit over the non-cylindrical shaft, a screw-threaded shaft fitting into the internally-screw-threaded portion of the cylindrical rack and connected by suitable mechanism to a shaft that is operated by the flow of gas through the meter, and a pinion mounted upon a shaft and connected with mechanism that will open or close the gasinlet valve, as the pinion is revolved one way or the other by the lateral movement of the cylindrical rack, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a prepayment gas-meter, a non-cylindrical rotatable shaft; a cylindrical rack fitting over the non-cylindrical shaft and engaging with a pinion on a shaft that controls the gas-inlet valve; a screw-threaded shaft fitting into the cylindrical rack and operated by the flow of gas through the meter, in combination with suitable mechanism for revolvin g the non-cylindrical shaft, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a coin-operated gas-meter,the shaft d, operated by suitable coin-controlled mechanism, in combination with the hollow cylindrical rack 01 having a sliding fit over the shaft d, and internally screw-threaded at the forward end; the shaft 61 carrying pinion 1 'and lever d; the shaft 6, having on one end thereof the long curved lever e and the arm a and on the opposite end the lever e carrying a gas-admission valve a;' the screwshaft 0, fitting into the internallyscrewthreaded forward end of the cylindrical rack (1 and having thereon the spur gear-Wheel c and the shaft a operated by the flow of gas through the meter and having thereon the worm gear-wheel a substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a prepayment coin-operated gas-meter, the combination of the shaft (1, operated by the coin-controlled mechanism, thehollow cylindrical rack (i internally screw-threaded at the forward end and having a sliding nonrotatable fit over the shaft d; the shaft d having thereon the pinion 01 and levers d, and al the shaft e, having thereon the long curved lever 6 the short arm 6 and the lever 6 carrying the valve a; the screw-shaft c, fitting into the screw-threaded end of cylindrical rack CF, and into the inner end of the square shaft d; the spur gear-wheel 0 on the end of the shaft 0, and the worm gearwheel a, on the shaft a that is operated by the flow of gas through the meter, all arranged, substantially as shown.

5. In a prepayment coin-operated gas-meter, the combination of the shaft 01, operated by a suitable coin-controlled movement, the

on the outer end a suitable dial pointer or' hand the prepayment-dial A having marked thereon figures that indicate the amount of.

gas purchased; the shaft e, having thereon the curved lever 6 the short arm e and the 1evere carrying the valve or; the screw-shaft 0, fitting into the cylindrical rack 6F, and having thereon the spur gear-wheel c and the shaft a having thereon the worm gear-wheel a and operated by the flow of gas through the meter, all arranged substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

6. In a prepayment gas-meter, the coin unlocking mechanism, consisting of the plate B, having therein a coin-slot; the knob or handle B on-the outer end of a spindle or shaft secured on the plate B, the ratchet-wheel D, on the inner end of the knob-spindle; the pawls D and D operating upon said ratchetwheel from opposite sides thereof; the wheel 0 operated by a wheel on the knob-spindle and having therein the projecting pins f and f that operate upon the pawl D to hold it out of contact with and prevent it locking the ratchet-wheel D, except at regular intervals, the connecting-rod D jointedly connected at one end to the ratchet-wheel and at the opposite end to the arm D, secured to the shaft E, carrying coin-lever E; the short arm E secured rigidly to the shaft E to which the pawl D is pivoted, in combination with suitable mechanism for rotating the shaft that controls the delivery of the gas, substantially as shown and described.

'7. In a prepayment gas-meter, the coin unlocking mechanism, consisting of the plate B, having therein a coin-slot; the knob or handle B on the outer end of a spindle or shaft extending through the plate B; the ratchetwheel D, on the inner end of the knob-spindle; the pawls D and D operating upon said ratchet Wheel in opposite directions; the wheel 0 operated by a wheel on the knobspindle and having therein projecting pins that operate upon the pawl D to hold it out of contact with the ratchet-wheel except at regular intervals; the connecting-rod D connected at one end to the ratchet-wheel and at the opposite end to the arm D secured upon the shaft E, carrying the coin-lever E; the short arm E secured on the shaft E that carries that pawl D in combination with the crank-arm on the end of the rotatable shaft that controls the delivery of the gas, all arranged substantially as shown.

8. In a prepayment gas-meter the combination of a coin unlocking mechanism, witha rotatable shaft, a hollow cylindrical and internally-screw-threaded rack having a sliding fit over the shaft, and means whereby said shaft and rack will revolve together, a screwthreaded shaft fitting into the internallyscreW-threaded portion of the cylindrical rack and connected by suitable mechanism to a shaft that is operated by the flow of gas through the meter, and a pinion mounted upon ashaft and connected with mechanism that will open or close the gas-inlet valve as the pinion is revolved one way or the other 

